FarmShare Blog

In case you missed it, the Plain Dealer ran an article about simple syrups in its Wed. July 14, Taste section. Simple syrup is 1:1 mixture of water and sugar that is heated to dissolve the sugar and flavored with herbs or fruit.

Simple syrup is a handy way to capture the flavor of fresh, seasonal herbs, fruit, and berries and use it to enhance lemonade, iced tea, summer cocktails, and desserts. A link to the full article and some great recipes is here... http://www.cleveland.com/taste/index.ssf/2010/07/post_57.html

Here at FarmShare, we're kicking off our third season this week with deliveries of fresh, locally grown produce to our subscribers at Tower City and Cleveland Heights (Independence deliveries begin Friday, June 25).

FarmShare subscribers can look forward to fresh, sweet strawberries in this week's delivery along with the strawberry's best friend, rhubarb We'll also have, not just one, but two varieties of organic lettuce for crisp, summer salads, garlic scapes and two types of nutritious and delicious kale. This week we'll also be offering each subscriber a choice of either sugar snap peas or broccoli (choice items are handled on a first come, first served basis). And our bread selections this week include whole wheat sourdough (Tower City) and Baguette or Italian Pave (Cleveland Heights).

Do you have friends or co-workers who might be interested in FarmShare? We still have room for a few more subscribers this season. So, please help us spread the word. And please feel free to bring a friend along to FarmShare delivery day so they can check us out.

FARMSHARE KITCHEN: RECIPE OF THE WEEK:

GARLIC SCAPE PESTO
A favorite among FarmShare subscribers, our Garlic Scape Pesto makes a delicious dip or spread for crackers. It’s also excellent mixed into pasta.

Makes about 1 cup of pesto.

10-12 garlic scapes, cut into half-inch lengths
1 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts or almonds
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
¼ - 1/3 cup olive oil

Sauté the garlic scapes in olive oil until tender, about 5-7 minutes. Allow to cool, then add to food processor along with nuts, cheese, salt, and pepper. Pulse to puree then slowly drizzle in additional olive oil to reach desired consistency. For thick pesto add less oil. If you prefer it thinner, add a bit more.

For Pasta: Cook ½ lb of pasta and drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Mix pasta water into pesto then add to warm pasta. For a creamy pasta, add ½ cup cream or plain Greek style yogurt. Add salt and pepper to taste.

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/jun/10/food-movement-rising/?page=1

Spring greetings from FarmShare!

We're happy to announce our 2010 FarmShare season at Tower City! 

Our 2010 FarmShare season will begin on June 17 and run through November 18, 2010. We hope you'll join us!

The sign-up deadline is May 20. So, don't delay, reserve your FarmShare today!

To reserve your FarmShare:

1. Click here to review our 2010 season  info and choose the subscription that works best for you;
2. Click here to complete the FarmShare Subscription Form and;
3. Mail your deposit to FarmShare by May 20, 2010.

New this year:

-Full-season subscriptions are available on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and;
-Full-season weekly subscribers receive a Veggie Vacation week (one floating week off to use for vacations or whenever you wish);  
-Our new U-Pick subscription option allows you to choose the weeks that work best for you; 
-And of course, the finest and freshest, locally grown foods you've come to expect from FarmShare growers and producers. 

Plans are in the works for a FarmShare open house at Tower City in May where you will have the opportunity to learn more about the upcoming season and introduce friends and colleagues to FarmShare. Please stay tuned for additional information.

If we can answer questions or provide additional information about FarmShare, please let us know.

FarmShare Ohio, LLC
PO Box 1998, Cleveland, OH 44106
Tel: 216.225.6311  |  Email: info@FarmShareOhio.com
Web: www.FarmShareOhio.com

We're making some changes to the website. Please bear with us!

Happy New Year!

2009 has been a great year for FarmShare. We've made it our mission to encourage local, seasonal eating by delivering you the freshest and finest foods available in our local foodshed. In spite of 2009's challenging economic times, we experienced our second year of growth. We worked with some of the most talented Northeast Ohio farmers and producers to deliver close to 18,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables -- all grown close to home on family farms located less than 50 miles from Cleveland.

We'd like to thank everyone who made our year a happy one: our dedicated FarmShare subscribers; our partners at Forest City Enterprises, our family; and friends of local food, new and old. Your support of FarmShare continues to provide local farmers a dependable, local market which preserves Ohio farmland and strengthens our local food community. 

And of course we applaud the many local farmers and food producers we've been fortunate to work with this year including our local bakers, cheesemakers, beekeepers, herb growers, millers, and yes, Mother Nature herself. Their seasonal collaboration resulted in a bounty of delicious, nutritious, locally grown food for our FarmShare tote bags throughout the past year.

Thank you all!

As 2010 quickly approaches, we have much to look forward to. The first FarmShare delivery of the year is scheduled for January 21. Our Happy Healthy New Year Delivery will feature winter root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, beets, and potatoes; kitchen staples such as onions and garlic; and more wholesome, hearty foods to nourish us through winter's coldest days.

If you're not already receiving information about FarmShare, please click here to subscribe to our mailing list and we'll keep you posted about our upcoming 2010 season.

Here's to much happiness, health, and tasty local food in 2010!

Happy New Year!

-Kari Moore
Founder and President, FarmShare Ohio


FarmShare Ohio LLC | PO Box 1998, Cleveland, OH 44106
tel: 216.225.6311 | email: info@FarmShareOhio.com

Winter FarmShare subscribers enjoyed one final delivery of broccoli last Thursday. It's perfect for this dish which comes to us from the creative kitchen of Heidi Robb.  Her recipe for Broccoli Tahini Spread transforms broccoli into a tasty, festive and healthy holiday treat.

http://heidirobb.com/2009/12/broccoli-tahini-spread/comment-page-1/#comment-835

Our thanks to Larry Luschek from Infinite Garden Farm for an amazing fall broccoli harvest this year!

Shop local this holiday season! Check out the 3/50 Project: Cleveland Holiday Challenge at www.chefswidow.com.

Thanks to FarmShare subscriber, Amelia Sawyer, for the nice mention of FarmShare and a  treasure trove of excellent, LOCAL shopping ideas!!! 

FarmShare will have details available soon about holiday gift baskets and our winter delivery schedule! Stay tuned!